Seismic Device Sealed Housing Orientation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In seismic exploration, the uncertainty in the orientation of seismic generation devices within wellbores complicates the accurate imaging of subterranean formations, leading to increased computational loads and reduced accuracy in data interpretation.
Innovation Solution
A seismic generation system with a swiveling coupler and a gyroscope to maintain the relative orientation of source electromagnets, coupled with a sealed housing design that includes ferromagnetic and non-ferromagnetic portions to prevent shorting and enhance magnetic clamp effectiveness, ensures stable and accurate seismic wave transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a seismic generation device is inserted in the wellbore without orientation control, then the device can be deployed easily, but the orientation uncertainty increases computational load and reduces imaging accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a swiveling coupler that allows the source element to rotate and maintain a known orientation relative to the wellbore axis. This dynamic adjustment mechanism enables the device to adapt its orientation while being deployed, resolving the contradiction between easy deployment and accurate orientation measurement by making the orientation controllable and measurable rather than fixed or random.
Solution Approach 2:
The gyroscope provides real-time feedback on the orientation of the source element within the wellbore. This feedback mechanism allows the system to monitor and correct orientation deviations, ensuring that the seismic source maintains a known and accurate orientation relative to the wellbore axis, thereby improving imaging accuracy without complicating the deployment process.
2Strength
If electromagnetic clamps are used to secure the source element, then the device can be firmly attached to the wellbore, but ferromagnetic housing material would short the magnetic poles and reduce clamp effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed with spatially varying magnetic properties: ferromagnetic material is used in regions that do not interfere with the magnetic clamps, while non-ferromagnetic material is strategically placed between the magnetic poles of the electromagnetic clamps. This local differentiation allows the housing to provide structural strength through ferromagnetic material while preventing magnetic shorting in critical areas, thus maintaining both attachment strength and clamp effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing combines ferromagnetic and non-ferromagnetic materials in a composite structure. The ferromagnetic portions provide mechanical strength and structural integrity, while the non-ferromagnetic portions inserted between the magnetic poles prevent magnetic flux shorting. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by allowing both strong attachment and reliable magnetic clamp operation within the same housing structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces computational loads and enhances the accuracy of subterranean formation imaging by maintaining the known orientation of source electromagnets, leading to higher resolution seismic data and improved subsurface imaging.
Implementation Method 1
source electromagnets coupled to the armature
Implementation Method 2
electromagnetic clamps coupled to the armature, each electromagnetic clamp having opposite magnetic poles
Implementation Method 3
The sealed housing may include respective ferromagnetic portions adjacent the opposite magnetic poles of each electromagnetic clamp
Data Source
AI summary
A seismic generation system may include an electrical source, a conductor coupled to the electrical source and to be positioned in a wellbore in a subterranean formation with a casing therein, and a seismic generation source assembly to be positioned in the wellbore and coupled to the conductor. The seismic generation source assembly may include a source element having a sealed housing, an armature within the sealed housing, source electromagnets coupled to the armature, and electromagnetic clamps coupled to the armature, each electromagnetic clamp having opposite magnetic poles. The sealed housing may include respective ferromagnetic portions adjacent the opposite magnetic poles of each electromagnetic clamp, and non-ferromagnetic portions between the opposite magnetic poles of each electromagnetic clamp.